The Saskatchewan government is raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024, but many business groups say they weren't even consulted on the matter..This wage increase came as a complete surprise to both business and labour organizations, which the government said it consulted..During a May 2, 2022 media scrum Moe was asked what the increase would look like, just up 10 cents or up a dollar or more?.“We are talking with stakeholders and it will be substantial,” said Moe..Nicole Sarauer, NDP deputy leader, contacted the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) during Moe’s media scrum and it was not consulted on the minimum wage..“It’s the first stakeholders are hearing about it, is what I understand. We just spoke with the SFL and they haven’t been consulted on it,” said Sarauer..Kathleen Cook, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Saskatchewan provincial affairs director, is disappointed the Saskatchewan government raising the minimum wage with no consultation with the CFIB..“The CFIB is disappointed the Saskatchewan government both neglected to consult with the small business community before abruptly announcing plans to hike minimum wage by 27% over two and-a-half years and failed to announce any mitigating measures to help small businesses absorb the cost,” said Cook..Cook mentioned in her response life is not back to normal for more than half Saskatchewan's small businesses..“CFIB’s latest survey data shows that less than half (42%) of Saskatchewan small businesses report being back to normal, pre-pandemic sales levels,” said Cook. .Mark von Schellwitz, Restaurants Canada (RC) vice-president of Western Canada, said RC was not consulted either on the wage increase and beside that, it came at a terrible time for restaurants..“Yesterday’s minimum wage announcement comes at the worst time for Saskatchewan restaurants. Operators are already struggling to survive, grappling with increased debt from the pandemic, as well as rising costs, and menu inflation pressure, all while trying to bring back price-sensitive guests to recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” said Schellwitz..“The decision came without consultation and moves away from the province’s traditional indexation formula, which linked adjustments to average hourly wage to the consumer price index for Saskatchewan.”.“The increase removes predictable and sustainable minimum wage increases at a time when Saskatchewan’s hospitality businesses can least afford it as the industry still continues to rebuild after being one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.”.Peter Gilmer, Poverty Free Saskatchewan spokesperson, wants the minimum wage at $17 per hour, as it is the acknowledged living wage in Saskatchewan..“It would be our hope that we would be moving immediately to the $15 per hour which is really something that should have been done some time ago. With the plan being from there to be moving to an actual living wage which is much closer to $17 per hour,” said Gilmer..NDP Opposition Critic for Jobs and the Economy, Aleana Young, told the Western Standard about how the Saskatchewan Party government rarely consults when making policy changes..“This lack of consultation is a long-standing pattern for this Sask. Party government. They feel somehow that they know better than the actual people doing the work. Consultation should be a pillar of any government policy and this consistent failing of the Sask. Party frankly speaks to why this government continues to be so out of touch with the realities the people of Saskatchewan are facing,” said Young..The Saskatchewan government did not respond to requests that asked what organizations it consulted.
The Saskatchewan government is raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024, but many business groups say they weren't even consulted on the matter..This wage increase came as a complete surprise to both business and labour organizations, which the government said it consulted..During a May 2, 2022 media scrum Moe was asked what the increase would look like, just up 10 cents or up a dollar or more?.“We are talking with stakeholders and it will be substantial,” said Moe..Nicole Sarauer, NDP deputy leader, contacted the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) during Moe’s media scrum and it was not consulted on the minimum wage..“It’s the first stakeholders are hearing about it, is what I understand. We just spoke with the SFL and they haven’t been consulted on it,” said Sarauer..Kathleen Cook, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Saskatchewan provincial affairs director, is disappointed the Saskatchewan government raising the minimum wage with no consultation with the CFIB..“The CFIB is disappointed the Saskatchewan government both neglected to consult with the small business community before abruptly announcing plans to hike minimum wage by 27% over two and-a-half years and failed to announce any mitigating measures to help small businesses absorb the cost,” said Cook..Cook mentioned in her response life is not back to normal for more than half Saskatchewan's small businesses..“CFIB’s latest survey data shows that less than half (42%) of Saskatchewan small businesses report being back to normal, pre-pandemic sales levels,” said Cook. .Mark von Schellwitz, Restaurants Canada (RC) vice-president of Western Canada, said RC was not consulted either on the wage increase and beside that, it came at a terrible time for restaurants..“Yesterday’s minimum wage announcement comes at the worst time for Saskatchewan restaurants. Operators are already struggling to survive, grappling with increased debt from the pandemic, as well as rising costs, and menu inflation pressure, all while trying to bring back price-sensitive guests to recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” said Schellwitz..“The decision came without consultation and moves away from the province’s traditional indexation formula, which linked adjustments to average hourly wage to the consumer price index for Saskatchewan.”.“The increase removes predictable and sustainable minimum wage increases at a time when Saskatchewan’s hospitality businesses can least afford it as the industry still continues to rebuild after being one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.”.Peter Gilmer, Poverty Free Saskatchewan spokesperson, wants the minimum wage at $17 per hour, as it is the acknowledged living wage in Saskatchewan..“It would be our hope that we would be moving immediately to the $15 per hour which is really something that should have been done some time ago. With the plan being from there to be moving to an actual living wage which is much closer to $17 per hour,” said Gilmer..NDP Opposition Critic for Jobs and the Economy, Aleana Young, told the Western Standard about how the Saskatchewan Party government rarely consults when making policy changes..“This lack of consultation is a long-standing pattern for this Sask. Party government. They feel somehow that they know better than the actual people doing the work. Consultation should be a pillar of any government policy and this consistent failing of the Sask. Party frankly speaks to why this government continues to be so out of touch with the realities the people of Saskatchewan are facing,” said Young..The Saskatchewan government did not respond to requests that asked what organizations it consulted.
